in front of Mosbey’s YAK-25 in Warrenton, VA, on 25 October 2006. Mosbey did a

three-year exchange tour with the Marine Corps and credits Dailey for being the

best CO he ever had.

PHOTOGRAPHER: COL WESTY WESTENHOFF, USAF (RET).

* Project Warrior was an initiative

... to identify ways to improve the

war ghting spirit and perspective of

Air Force people ...

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www.ﬂymcaa.org

Uncovering the Untold

History of the MACCS

and Dening its Future

Capabilities

The Father of the Marine Aviation Command and Control System

Brigadier General Edward Dyer (pictured above) was instrumental in increasing the tables of organizaon and equipment for ghter squadrons and base defense groups at the onset of World War II. Based on his

knowledge and the aer acon reports from the Guadalcanal Campaign, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviaon convened a Radar Policy Board in February 1943. The release of the board’s report on 17 March 1943

would lead to the creaon of the rst independent air control squadron in the Marine Corps. Dyer spent years deployed throughout the Central and South Pacic. Upon his return, he became one of the leaders

in helicopter development which culminated in his becoming the rst Commanding Ocer of HMX-1 in 1947.

The Father of the

Marine Aviation

Command and

Control System

Brigadier General Edward Dyer

(pictured above) was instrumental

in increasing the tables of

organization and equipment

for ghter squadrons and base

defense groups at the onset

of World War II. Based on his

knowledge and the after action

reports from the Guadalcanal

Campaign, Headquarters Marine

Corps Aviation convened a

Radar Policy Board in February

1943. The release of the board’s

report on 17 March 1943 would

lead to the creation of the rst

independent air control squadron

in the Marine Corps. Dyer spent

years deployed throughout the

Central and South Pacic. Upon

his return, he became one of the

leaders in helicopter development

which culminated in his becoming

the rst Commanding Ofcer of

HMX-1 in 1947.

By: LtCoL DaviD Joseforsky (Mos 7202)

MaJ Mark MurPHy (Mos 7202)

MaJ Mike CarLson (Mos 7202)

MaJ MarCus HinCkLey (Mos 7202)

MGysGt eDWarD CorDasCo (Mos 7236)

The Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) has been

described as the hyphen between the “Air” and “Ground” elements

in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) concept. Its units

provide air trac control, air intercept control, a wide range of

communications for the Aviation Combat Element, anti-aircraft res

in the form of Stinger missiles, and air-ground liaison capabilities

under the umbrella of the Direct Air Support Center (DASC). Most

importantly, today’s MACCS Marines establish the Tactical Air

Command Center, the platform from which the Wing Commanding

General directs and manages all relevant aviation assets.

“Without the MACCS and its guidance and oversight, all aviation

operations would come to a standstill,” said Colonel Chris S. Richie, the

commanding ofcer of Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38), the group

that oversees MACCS units on the West Coast.“In Marine Corps aviation,

the MACG coordinates all aspects of air command and control and air

defense within the Marine Aircraft Wing. But if you ask most individuals,

they don’t know what the MACG does.We don’t y aircraft, and we’re

not ground-pounders.We act like the body’s nervous system—we’re a

behind-the-scenes force that is imperative to the success of any aviation

operations being conducted.”

These behind-the-scenes aspects of the MACCS and its Marines play

a large part in the fact that it is often overlooked in the grand scheme

of Marine aviation.Yet many early MACCS innovators have compelling

stories, according to Major Mark Murphy, the Assistant Operations ofcer

Bayler, the ‘Last Man off Wake Island,’ was looking into radar and air

command and control as early as 1943.Vernon Megee, who also rose to

the rank of general, formed the precursor to today’s DASC on the beaches

of Iwo Jima in March 1945.”

Fueled by his desire to ll in the blanks of the history of the MACCS,

Murphy arrived at MACG-38 in 2015 and found an immediate ally in

Colonel Richie.“The CO and I saw eye-to-eye in terms of wanting to tell

these stories of the MACCS and its successes,” Murphy said. On his own

time, Murphy began to collect documents and stories from veterans of

the MACCS from as far back as World War II. He soon had more material

WINTER 2016

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yellowsheet

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57

Uncovering the Untold

History of the MACCS

and Dening its Future

Capabilities

The Father of the Marine Aviation Command and Control System

Brigadier General Edward Dyer (pictured above) was instrumental in increasing the tables of organizaon and equipment for ghter squadrons and base defense groups at the onset of World War II. Based on his

knowledge and the aer acon reports from the Guadalcanal Campaign, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviaon convened a Radar Policy Board in February 1943. The release of the board’s report on 17 March 1943

would lead to the creaon of the rst independent air control squadron in the Marine Corps. Dyer spent years deployed throughout the Central and South Pacic. Upon his return, he became one of the leaders

in helicopter development which culminated in his becoming the rst Commanding Ocer of HMX-1 in 1947.

than he could keep at home.An ofce space near the front hatch of the

MACG-38 headquarters caught his attention one morning as he headed to

his desk.

“I pitched the idea of a MACCS Heritage Room, and it just started to

gain traction,” Murphy said. Murphy worked after hours with a fellow

MACCS history expert, Master Gunnery Sergeant Edward Cordasco, to

transform the space into a veritable shrine dedicated to the Marines

who have fought and died as part of the MACCS and its Control Groups.

“We have a Purple Heart medal from Jacob Marty, the rst Air Warning

Squadron Marine to be killed in action on 8 March 1944.We also

obtained the Congressional Medal of Honor Citation for First Lieutenant

George Cannon, an air defender who perished ghting on Midway.”A

third prominent exhibit details the accomplishments that won four DASC

Marines the Silver Star for defending their position atop Hill 327 in

Vietnam in February 1969.

Murphy’s dream became ofcial reality on 10 November 2016, when

Colonel Richie presided over the dedication of the MACG-38 Heritage

Room.“The MACCS has a rich history and legacy of contributions to

the victories that have cemented our Corps’ position as one of the nest

ghting forces in the world,” Richie said.“Today is about remembering

our past and the ties that bind that past to the present.”

As the MACCS moves forward from the present to a Joint Strike Fighter

(JSF) future, its technologies will evolve to keep it relevant and integrated